August/September 2024 Prompt:: **Unusual Wingman**

This story is Nick going along to a club with Harry to be his wingman.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this, why did I agree to this?” Nick moaned.

“Because you love me?”

“No Harry! It’s because you pulled that puppy dog face at Charlie because and you knew I’d do whatever he wanted,” Nick poked Harry in the chest as they waited in line.

“Come on man, it’ll be fun, two bros together,” Harry said bumping his shoulder against Nick’s.

“But why here?” Nick asked.

“This is where all the cool people go,” Harry smirked before adding, “but I’m sure they’ll let you in anyway.”

Nick turned, “That’s it, I’m leaving!” Harry grabbed Nick’s arm to stop him.

“Please, Nick, don’t go man. I need you,” Harry pleaded.

Huffing out a sigh, Nick reluctantly faced Harry, “Fine! But one more snidey comment from you and I’m going back home to Charlie,” poking him in the chest again to emphasise his point.

Holding his hands up in surrender, Harry agreed, “Sure man, sure. Best behaviour, I promise.”

Nick and Harry hadn’t spent much time together since they’d left Truham, apart from the odd get together of a few of the old rugby lads. Although at times he could still be both annoying and obnoxious, he had mellowed since they were students together. But when Harry had asked him to be his wingman tonight, Nick was shocked.

As the queue inched forward, Harry was bouncing about, fed up of all the standing still. He’d never been good at standing still, always needing to be doing something. Too much energy for his own good.

When they finally reached the bouncer at the front of the queue Harry thought he was going to burst. It took him months to work up the courage to ask Nick to be his wingman, and now he was here he was just itching to get inside. He was vibrating on the spot as the bouncer looked them up and down.

“No druggies allowed, get lost,” the bouncer barked.

“Drugs? Nah man, we don’t touch that shit,” Harry said, trying to be pally with his arm around the bouncer.

Brushing him off, the bouncer stood firm, “You’re shaking a like a leaf kid, you’re clearly high.”

Before Harry had a chance to say anything else, Nick stepped between him and the bouncer. “Sorry about my friend, he’s never been here before and he’s just excited. I promise he’s no trouble.”

The bouncer looked Nick up and down, considering whether he was telling the truth. “Alright, but he better not be,” he said as he let the two men past and into the club.

The bright lights were flashing inside the club as people moved to the beat of the music. Around the floor angels are dancing on podiums. Harry’s eyes dart around the room, taking in the bare flesh on display and the bodies pressed closely against each other.

Touching Harry’s arm, Nick shouts over the music, “Let’s grab a drink!” With a nod, they move to the bar to grab a couple of beers. “So, what do you think?” Nick asked.

“It’s…it’s…wow,” was all Harry managed to say, lost for words, possibly for the first time in his life causing Nick to chuckle.

“Yeah, that’s one word for it.”

Looking around the room, Harry’s gaze fixes on one of the podiums across the dance floor. “Wow, look at that,” Harry gawped at one particular angel that had caught his eye. Nick followed Harry’s eyes to see what had captured his attention.

“Really?” Nick smirked.

“Yeah, why not?”

“I just didn’t know that was your type,” Nick teased, certain he saw a small blush creep across Harry’s face.

“You’re not the only one that likes them lean,” Harry winked.

Nudging his arm, Nick asks, “Well, are you gonna go over there?”

Nerves clear on his face, “Can’t you go for me?”

Laughing Nick replies, “I can’t go for you, man up dude.”

Groaning, Harry whines, “But…what if he doesn’t feel the same way.”

“You’ll never know until you speak to him.”

“But, what do I say?”

“How about starting with Hi. It worked for me,” Nick smiled remembering the first day he met his Charlie.

Finishing off his drink and putting the empty glass down on the bar, Harry takes a deep breathe and starts moving towards the dance floor that he has to cross to get to the podiums. As he gets to the edge of the floor, he chickens out and hurries back to Nick’s side, banging his head down on the top of the bar.

“Is it always this difficult?” Harry asks, his voice muffled by the sticky surface his face is pressed against.

Chuckling to himself, “How would I know? I’ve been with Charlie since school, remember.”

Raising his head, Harry ponders, “I wish I’d known then, you know, maybe it would have been easier.”

“I don’t know about that, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for us.”

Ordering a shot from the barman and downing it quickly, Harry decides if he doesn’t try now, he never will. He makes a determined stride towards the dance floor but its too late, his beautiful angel is no longer up on his heavenly perch. Harry looks around at the other stages and sees all of them are now empty.

If only he hadn’t been such a chicken, it’s just like when he was back at school. After Nick had come out, Harry had thought maybe he could too, safety in numbers, that sort of thing. But every time he tried, he’d get scared and instead say something stupid or worse, homophobic.

Feeling dejected, Harry lowers his gaze to the floor and twists round to head back to Nick. As he does he collides with someone standing right behind him. Looking up to apologise, he’s greeted by a pair of beautiful caramel eyes, delicately spiked hair and a large set of fluffy white angel wings. His taught muscles glistening with sweat from all the dancing.

Speechless again, all Harry can say is, “Hi.”